Laptop tray for roll-aboard luggage

ABSTRACT

A tray ( 10 ) for supporting a laptop computer ( 40 ) has a generally T-shaped handle ( 11 ) attached to a generally rectangular support body ( 12 ). The body ( 12 ) has a pair of spaced apart longer parallel side rails ( 13, 14 ) connected by a bottom rail ( 15 ) and a top rail ( 16 ). The bottom rail ( 15 ) is generally planar to provide a resting surface for a front edge of the computer ( 40 ). The top rail ( 16 ) has a pair of friction devices ( 17, 18 ) mounted thereon and the handle ( 11 ) has a stem ( 19 ) attached to the top rail ( 16 ) between the friction devices. An alternate embodiment handle ( 52 ) has a cross-bar ( 20 ) attached to the top rail ( 16 ) by a pair of legs ( 55, 56 ) and the cross-bar has a friction device ( 54 ) mounted thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/972,934 filed Sep. 17, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for supporting alaptop computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The modern business traveler often finds himself or herself waiting fortransportation or an appointment. Such traveler typically carries aportable computer that can be used to perform work tasks during thewaiting period. However, waiting areas in airports, train stations andoffice lobbies usually do not have a desk-like surface for supportingthe portable computer in a comfortable working position.

A portable work surface for use with a luggage carrier is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 6,150,508 issued Aug. 22, 2000. A ground engaging leg and anengaging apparatus are attached to the work surface. The engagingapparatus frictionally couples to a support member of the luggagecarrier.

A combined desk and luggage carrier is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,796issued Apr. 8, 2003. A wheeled luggage supporting frame has a pivotallyconnected lower support shelf on one side and a pivotally connectedupper desk-top shelf on an opposite side. Folding telescopic legs areattached to the desk-top shelf for further support.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,472 shows a tray having either a foldable leafportion or a fixed upstanding rib. The tray rests on top of the uprightluggage with the leaf portion or rib engaged with a handle of theluggage to maintain the tray in a horizontal position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an apparatus for supporting a laptopcomputer includes a tray having a generally T-shaped handle attached toa generally rectangular support body.

The apparatus body has a pair of spaced apart longer parallel side railsconnected by a bottom rail and a top rail. The bottom rail is generallyplanar to provide a resting surface for a front edge of a computer.

The apparatus top rail has a pair of friction means mounted thereon andthe handle has a stem attached to the top rail between the frictionmeans. The stem is attached to a cross-bar having a pair of frictionmeans mounted thereon.

A method of using the apparatus according to the present inventionwherein a roll-aboard luggage bag has an extending handle assemblyformed with a handle attached between a pair of extendable legs wherebywhen the handle assembly is extended, the friction means contactopposite sides of the legs to maintain the tray in any selected positionalong the legs.

In another embodiment, the apparatus top rail has a friction meansmounted thereon. The handle has a cross-bar attached to the top rail bya pair of legs and the cross-bar has a friction means mounted thereon.

A method of using the apparatus according to the alternate embodiment ofthe present invention wherein a roll-aboard luggage bag has an extendinghandle assembly formed with a handle attached between a pair ofextendable legs whereby when the handle assembly is extended, thefriction means contact opposite sides of the handle assembly legs tomaintain the tray in any selected position along the handle assemblylegs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above as well as other advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in thelight of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two embodiments of a tray apparatus inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the trays shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the trays shown in FIG. 1 mountedon the handle of roll-aboard luggage;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view similar to FIG. 4 showing theroll-aboard luggage;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with a laptop computer supported bythe tray; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the tray and computer in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/972,934 filed Sep.17, 2007 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The following detailed description and appended drawings describe andillustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to makeand use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the stepspresented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps isnot necessary or critical.

To make the Business traveler's time more productive, a Laptop Tray wasinvented to easily attach to the handle of roll-aboard luggage and holda laptop computer at a convenient height in front of the seated user.

The Laptop Tray works on a cantilever principle so when weight isapplied to the tray, two rubber coated friction arms rotate to trap theextended luggage handle. The tray's height is adjustable over the lengthof the vertically extended luggage handle.

The friction arms come in two configurations. (1) A “T” configurationwhich splits the vertical telescoping handle supports and (2) a “D”configuration which encircles the telescoping handle support rod(s). Alow tension bungee cord is recommended to maintain positive downwardforce on the tray insuring engagement of the friction arms.

As shown in the figures, a tray 10 has a generally T-shaped handle 11attached to a generally rectangular support body 12. The body 12 has apair of spaced apart longer parallel side rails 13 and 14 connected by abottom rail 15 and a top rail 16. The bottom rail 15 is generally planarto provide a resting surface for the front edge of a computer 40. Thetop rail 16 has a pair of friction devices or means 17 and 18 mountedthereon and the handle 11 has a stem 19 attached to the top rail 16between the friction means. The stem 19 is attached to a cross-bar 20having a pair of friction devices or means 21 and 22 mounted thereon. Inan alternate embodiment (not shown), the stem 19 can be eliminated fromthe handle 11 and the cross-bar 20 attached to the top rail 16 by a legat each end.

A roll-aboard luggage bag 34 has an extending handle assembly 30 formedwith a handle 31 attached between a pair of extendable legs 32 and 33.When the handle assembly 30 is extended, the friction means 17 and 21contact opposite sides of the leg 32 and the friction means 18 and 22contact opposite sides of the leg 33 to maintain the tray 10 in anyselected position along the legs 32 and 33. When the tray 10 is mountedon the handle assembly 30, the computer 40 can be placed on the rails 13and 14 to rest against the bottom rail 15. Now the computer 40 is readyfor use as shown in FIG. 6.

An alternate embodiment tray 50 has a generally D-shaped handle 52attached to a generally rectangular support body 51. The body 51 has thepair of spaced apart longer parallel side rails 13 and 14 connected bythe bottom rail 15 and the top rail 16. The bottom rail 15 is generallyplanar to provide a resting surface for the front edge of the computer40. The top rail 16 has a single friction device or means 53 mountedthereon and the handle 52 has the cross-bar 20 attached to the top rail16 at the ends thereof by a pair of legs 55 and 56. The cross-bar 20 hasa friction device or means 54 mounted thereon.

When the handle assembly 30 of the roll-aboard luggage bag 34 isextended, the legs 55 and 56 cam be placed on opposite sides of thehandle assembly 30 and the friction means 53 and 54 will contactopposite sides of the legs 32 and 33 to maintain the tray 50 in anyselected position along the legs 32 and 33. When the tray 50 is mountedon the handle assembly 30, the computer 40 can be placed on the rails 13and 14 to rest against the bottom rail 15 in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the presentinvention has been described in what is considered to represent itspreferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention canbe practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and describedwithout departing from its spirit or scope.

1. An apparatus for supporting a laptop computer comprising: a trayhaving a generally T-shaped handle attached to a generally rectangularsupport body.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said bodyhas a pair of spaced apart longer parallel side rails connected by abottom rail and a top rail.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 3wherein said bottom rail is generally planar to provide a restingsurface for a front edge of a computer.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 3 wherein said top rail has a pair of friction means mountedthereon and said handle has a stem attached to said top rail betweensaid friction means.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein saidstem is attached to a cross-bar having a pair of friction means mountedthereon.
 6. A method of using the apparatus according to claim 6 whereina roll-aboard luggage bag has an extending handle assembly formed with ahandle attached between a pair of extendable legs whereby when thehandle assembly is extended, the friction means contact opposite sidesof the legs to maintain the tray in any selected position along thelegs.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said top rail has afriction means mounted thereon.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 8wherein handle has a cross-bar attached to said top rail by a pair oflegs and said cross-bar has a friction means mounted thereon.
 9. Amethod of using the apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a roll-aboardluggage bag has an extending handle assembly formed with a handleattached between a pair of extendable legs whereby when the handleassembly is extended, the friction means contact opposite sides of thehandle assembly legs to maintain the tray in any selected position alongthe handle assembly legs.